• It is time to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York?, CBS New York, Published 2025-08-31

Aug 23 - Two sedans met hard at W 16 St and 9th Ave. Metal tore. Glass flew. A passenger bled from the face. The BMW driver hurt. The Porsche driver listed uninjured. Police note alcohol and other vehicular factors. Night streets took the hit.

Two sedans collided at W 16 St and 9 Ave in Manhattan. The eastbound Porsche struck the right side of a southbound BMW. A 27-year-old female front passenger suffered severe facial lacerations. The 27-year-old male BMW driver reported pain. The 31-year-old female Porsche driver was listed uninjured. According to the police report “contributing factors” were “Other Vehicular” and “Alcohol Involvement.” Driver errors cited include Alcohol Involvement. The BMW showed right-side damage; the Porsche showed front-end damage. No pedestrians or cyclists were listed among the injured. The records identify both drivers as licensed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4837312 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Aug 20 - A taxi drove south and hit a westbound cyclist at Mercer and West Houston. The crash cut her leg. She stayed conscious. The car kept its nose clean; her body paid. A control was ignored. Streets turned sharp and small.

A southbound taxi and a westbound cyclist collided at Mercer St and W Houston St in Manhattan. The 31-year-old bicyclist suffered severe leg lacerations and was conscious. According to the police report, the contributing factor was “Traffic Control Disregarded.” The data shows the taxi’s center front hit the bike’s left front, indicating the motorist drove straight into the cyclist’s path. These are driver errors that endanger people outside the car. Only after those failures does the record note the cyclist listed “None” for safety equipment, which did not cause the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4836490 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jul 29 - A driver in a parked sedan and a southbound cyclist collided on E 17th at 5th. The cyclist, 21, suffered severe head cuts. The driver, 72, was unhurt. Police recorded Failure to Keep Right.

A southbound cyclist and a parked sedan collided on E 17 Street at 5 Avenue in Manhattan. The crash happened at 10:42 a.m. The cyclist, 21, suffered severe head lacerations and was listed as injured. The driver, 72, was not hurt. According to the police report, the cyclist’s head was the site of injury. Police recorded “Failure to Keep Right” as a contributing factor. The sedan had damage to the left front quarter panel. Police noted damage to the front of the bike. No other contributing factors were recorded. The case is logged under collision ID 4831257.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4831257 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 30 - Governor Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, extending NYC’s school zone speed camera program to 2030. Cameras stay. Streets watch. Danger lingers for kids crossing. Fewer drivers speed. Fewer crashes. Lives spared.

On June 30, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.8344/A.8787, renewing New York City’s school zone speed camera program through July 1, 2030. The bill, described as 'an extra boost' for automated enforcement, updates home-rule provisions first enacted in 2013. State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick sponsored the measure. Both praised the program’s record in cutting speeds and saving lives. Council member Barbara Russo-Lennon supported the renewal. A safety analyst notes the extension is likely to reduce speeds and crashes, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists, especially children, without burdening vulnerable road users.

• Staying on: New Yorkers react to Hochul’s renewed speed camera program in NYC, AMNY, Published 2025-06-30

Jun 25 - Albany stalled. Lawmakers dragged their feet. No new laws for safer streets. Pedestrians and cyclists left exposed. The car stays king. The status quo kills. Vulnerable New Yorkers pay the price.

The 2025 Albany legislative session ended June 25, with lawmakers failing to pass key street safety bills. The Streetsblog NYC report reads: "Our elected officials in Albany have failed the livable streets movement again." Despite support for measures like speed camera reauthorization, most bills to protect pedestrians and cyclists died in committee or never reached the floor. Assembly Member Amy Sohn and others criticized the lack of action. The only major win was extending the city’s speed camera program. A safety analyst notes: 'Failure to advance livable streets policies likely maintains the status quo, which typically prioritizes car-centric infrastructure and neglects the safety and needs of pedestrians and cyclists.' The session’s inaction leaves vulnerable road users at risk. No progress. No protection.

• D-Minus! The Albany Report Card for 2025, Streetsblog NYC, Published 2025-06-25

Jun 18 - Waymo will test robotaxis on New York streets. Human drivers will control the cars. State law blocks full autonomy. Officials stress safety. Waymo pushes for legal change. The city weighs risk. Streets wait for the next move.

NY Daily News reported on June 18, 2025, that Waymo will soon test its driverless taxi technology in New York City. The vehicles will not operate autonomously; human drivers will remain behind the wheel, as state law forbids fully driverless cars. Waymo is lobbying for a law change to allow autonomous operation, but the effort has stalled in the State Assembly. Mayoral spokeswoman Sophia Askari said, "Public safety is our first priority, which is why we have strong guardrails and requirements in place on any sort of autonomous vehicles." The city’s Department of Transportation is reviewing Waymo’s permit application, the first under the new Autonomous Vehicle Demonstration or Testing Permit Program. The article highlights the tension between technological ambition and regulatory caution, with policy decisions pending and no driverless operation allowed yet.

• Waymo Robotaxis Begin NYC Street Tests, NY Daily News, Published 2025-06-18

Jun 17 - Senate passes S 8344. School speed zone rules in New York City get extended. Lawmakers make technical fixes. The bill keeps pressure on drivers near schools. Streets stay a little safer for kids.

Bill S 8344, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repealer,' moved through the Senate and Assembly in June 2025. Sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes, the bill passed Senate votes on June 12 and June 13, and cleared the Assembly on June 17. The measure extends and corrects school speed zone laws in New York City, repealing outdated provisions. Gounardes led the push, with strong support from most Senate Democrats and a split Assembly. The bill's technical fixes aim to keep protections in place for children and other vulnerable road users near schools. No safety analyst note was provided.

• File S 8344, Open States, Published 2025-06-17

Jun 12 - A man crossing East 14th was hit by a cyclist. Blood pooled on the pavement. The pedestrian suffered a head injury. Shock set in. The bike rolled on, undamaged. The street stayed busy. The city did not stop.

A 55-year-old man was injured when a cyclist traveling east struck him while he crossed East 14th Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was in shock after the crash. The incident occurred at night, away from an intersection or marked crosswalk. The police report lists the contributing factors as 'Unspecified.' No driver errors were cited in the data. The bicycle sustained no damage. The crash highlights the ongoing dangers faced by pedestrians on New York City streets, even when no motor vehicles are involved.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4820149 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Jun 5 - Assembly Bill A 8787 keeps school speed zones alive in New York City. It fixes technical errors. It repeals old rules. Streets near schools stay watched. Drivers face checks. Kids walk safer.

Assembly Bill A 8787, sponsored by Deborah Glick, is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled 'Extends provisions and makes technical corrections to school speed zones in NYC; repeals certain provisions relating thereto,' was introduced on June 5, 2025. Glick leads the push to keep speed zones near schools, correcting past errors and removing outdated rules. The bill remains under committee review. No safety analyst note was provided, but the measure aims to keep enforcement strong around schools. Vulnerable road users—children—stay in focus.

• File A 8787, Open States, Published 2025-06-05

Jun 2 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They protested NYPD’s push to criminalize minor bike infractions. Delivery riders, many undocumented, face court summonses for sidewalk riding and red lights. Judges toss charges. Police say it’s about compliance. Riders say it’s about targeting.

West Side Spirit reported on June 2, 2025, that hundreds of cyclists protested in Manhattan against the NYPD’s new policy of issuing criminal court summonses for minor bike infractions. The crackdown targets delivery workers, especially undocumented riders, for offenses like sidewalk riding and nonstandard bike setups. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the move, stating, 'When it comes to traffic safety, compliance is not optional.' Protesters and advocates argue the policy is discriminatory and escalates minor violations, risking severe consequences for vulnerable workers. Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives called it 'really inappropriate escalation.' The article highlights confusion over traffic rules and the risk of criminalization for actions previously handled as civil matters, raising questions about enforcement priorities and the impact on immigrant communities.

• Cyclists Rally Against NYPD Crackdown, West Side Spirit, Published 2025-06-02

May 31 - Hundreds rode through Manhattan. They called out harsh summonses for e-bike riders. Police target cyclists with criminal charges for minor traffic moves. Drivers get tickets. Riders face court. The city’s rules hit the vulnerable. The streets stay dangerous.

Gothamist (2025-05-31) reports on a protest in Lower Manhattan against the NYPD’s policy of issuing criminal summonses to e-bike riders for traffic violations like running red lights or riding against traffic. Cyclists and advocates argue the penalties are harsher than those faced by drivers for similar actions. As one protester said, “It seems unfair to me that cyclists should receive a higher penalty for doing the same thing that a person in a car would do.” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the crackdown, citing the lack of licensing for e-bikes as a challenge for enforcement, but acknowledged the need for legislative reform. The article highlights inconsistent enforcement and the risks faced by vulnerable road users, especially delivery workers. Policy gaps and unequal penalties expose systemic danger on city streets.

• E-Bike Riders Protest NYPD Crackdown, Gothamist, Published 2025-05-31

May 20 - A sedan hit a pedestrian on Bleecker Street. The man suffered a head injury and severe bleeding. The crash left him semiconscious. No driver errors listed. Streets remain dangerous.

A sedan traveling east struck a 26-year-old man on Bleecker Street in Manhattan. According to the police report, the pedestrian was not at an intersection and suffered a head injury with severe bleeding, leaving him semiconscious. The report lists no specific driver errors or contributing factors. The driver and passengers in the sedan were not reported injured. The only injury recorded was to the pedestrian, who was in the roadway at the time of the crash. The data does not mention helmet use or signaling as factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814350 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

May 3 - A van door swung open. The e-biker hit it, thrown into the street. A truck rolled over him. He died in the gutter, Broome and Centre. The city lost a musician. The street stayed the same.

NY Daily News reported on May 3, 2025, that George Smaragdis, known as synthwave artist Starcadian, died after being doored by a Mercedes van while riding his e-bike westbound on Broome Street in Manhattan. The impact threw him into the path of a red delivery truck, which ran him over. Police said Smaragdis suffered severe head trauma and died at Bellevue Hospital. The article notes, 'The man who died after being doored while riding an e-bike and then run over by a passing truck...was a popular and influential synthwave artist.' The crash highlights the ongoing danger of dooring and the lethal consequences when street design and driver actions fail to protect cyclists. No mention of charges or policy changes followed.

• E-Biker Doored, Killed in Soho Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-05-03

May 1 - E-bike struck a woman crossing at Chambers and Church. She fell, hit her head, bled badly. The rider failed to yield. The street stayed loud and bright.

A 58-year-old woman was hit by an e-bike at the intersection of Chambers Street and Church Street in Manhattan. She suffered a head injury and severe bleeding, and was found unconscious. According to the police report, the e-bike operator failed to yield the right-of-way. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as the main contributing factor. No other causes were cited.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4814321 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Apr 16 - Assembly bill A 7997 lets speed cameras catch drivers hiding or altering plates. It extends camera use in school zones. Lawmakers push to close loopholes that shield reckless drivers from accountability.

Assembly bill A 7997, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, sponsored by Deborah Glick with co-sponsors Jo Anne Simon, John Zaccaro Jr., Linda Rosenthal, and Tony Simone, was introduced on April 16, 2025. It 'permits the use of photo speed violation monitoring systems in New York City for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction, concealment, and/or distortion; extends provisions permitting the use of speed cameras in certain school zones.' By targeting plate obstruction, the bill seeks to stop drivers from dodging speed camera enforcement, a move that could help protect pedestrians and cyclists from repeat offenders.

• File A 7997, Open States, Published 2025-04-16

Apr 11 - Including Thursday's deadly crash, 25 people have been killed in New York City sightseeing helicopter accidents in the last 40 years.

• Lawmakers aim to make changes after New York City sightseeing helicopter crash, ABC7, Published 2025-04-11

Mar 20 - A man lay bleeding in the crosswalk at Lafayette and Bleecker after a southbound cyclist hit him in the head and rode on. The street stayed quiet. The impact left the pedestrian semiconscious, blood pooling on the pavement.

A 54-year-old man was struck in the head by a southbound cyclist at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Bleecker Street in Manhattan, according to the police report. The pedestrian was left semiconscious and bleeding severely in the crosswalk. The report states the cyclist did not stop after the collision. Police cite 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as contributing factors. The cyclist's bike showed no damage, but the impact left the pedestrian with a serious head injury. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The incident underscores the ongoing danger to people on foot when drivers—regardless of vehicle type—fail to yield and pay attention.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801050 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 19 - A Ford SUV swung right on Waverly Place. The driver, distracted, plowed into a 55-year-old man crossing with the light. Bone met bumper. The man stayed conscious. His knee and foot shattered. The SUV rolled on, undamaged.

According to the police report, a Ford SUV turned right on Waverly Place near Broadway and struck a 55-year-old man who was crossing with the signal. The report states the pedestrian was hit in the leg by the bumper, resulting in crush injuries to his knee and foot. The pedestrian remained conscious at the scene. Police explicitly cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The pedestrian was crossing with the light, as documented in the report, and was located at the intersection. The SUV sustained no damage. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor, keeping the focus on the driver's failure to pay attention during the turn.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800189 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 14 - A man emerged from behind a parked SUV on 7th Avenue. A sedan, moving too fast, struck him. His pelvis broke. He stayed conscious on the asphalt as traffic and city life pressed on. The street did not pause.

A 26-year-old man was seriously injured on 7th Avenue near West 13th Street in Manhattan when a sedan, traveling at unsafe speed, struck him as he stepped from behind a parked SUV. According to the police report, the pedestrian suffered 'crush injuries' to his pelvis and remained conscious at the scene. The report identifies 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factor in the collision. The sedan’s impact was severe, shattering the man’s pelvis and leaving him on the roadway as other vehicles continued past. The police narrative states: 'A man stepped from behind a parked SUV. A speeding sedan struck him hard. His pelvis shattered.' The pedestrian was not at an intersection when the crash occurred. The report does not cite any contributing actions by the victim beyond his location and movement. The focus remains on the driver’s excessive speed, which directly led to the violent outcome.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798757 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19